Coin-controlled postal-card-dispensing machine.



, iJ-ATHNTHD JULY 14,' 1908. H. H. & H. o'. HARRIS. 4 G01N GONTHOLLHDPOSTAL GARD DISPHNSINGVMAGHINH.

PPLIOATION FILED MAY 3, 1907.

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No. 893,493. PATHNT'HD JULY 14, 1908.

H. H. @A H. c. HARRIS. I

G01N GONTHOLLHD POSTAL GARD DISPHHSING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 3,1190?.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@Vi bussen A PATENTED JULY 14, 17908. H. H. L H. C. HARRIS.l

` COIN G`0NTROLLED POSTAL GARD DISPENSIANG MACHINE.

APPLIoATIoN HLBD MAY 3, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l 61mm,

HARVEY H. HARRIS AND HENRY C.

HARRIS, OF COWGILL, MISSOURI.

COIN-CONTROLLED POSTAL-CARD-DISPENSING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1908.

Application filed May 3, 1907- Serial No. 371,618.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, HARVEY H. HARRIs and HENRY C. HARRIs, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Cowgill, in the county of Caldwell andState of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements inCoin-Controlled Postal-Card-Dispensing Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to a coin-controlled postal card dispensingmachine of that type in which the vcards are cut off a ribbon that isada ted to be fed througlra cutting device whereliy a card can besevered from the ribbon every time a coin is dropped into the machineand the operating crank turned.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and Simplify theconstruction and operation of devices of this character so as tobecomparatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture, readily charged and,manipulated, and thoroughly reliable and eflicient in use.

A further object 'of the invention is the provision of a souvenir postalcard dispensing machine provided with a feeding device with controllingmeans-whereby the postal card ribbon can be fed forwardly a length equalto one card for every coin that is dropped intothe machine.

A still further object is the employment of an automatic cutting devicefor severing the postal cards from the ribbon simultaneously with thestopping of the ribbon feeding dev1ce.

With these objects in view and others, as will appear as the descriptionproceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features ofconstruction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully describedhereinafter and set forth 'with particularity in the claims appendedhereto.`

In the accom anying drawings, which illustrate one of t e embodiments ofthe invention, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the machine. Fig. 2 isa side view thereof with the casing removed. Fig. 3 is a central ver`tical section ofthe safety coin receptacle. Fig. 4 is a detail view ofthe cutter or knife and cam `device for actuating the same. Fig. 5 is adetail view of the feed rolls. Fig. 6 is Aa .detail sectional viewshowing the manually actuated device for discharging `the coin from thechute to actuate thedetent of the operating 'crank locking means. Fig. 7

is a fragmentary plan view showing the ribbon roll and supporting meanstherefor.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate correspondingparts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, A designates the metal or other framework ofthe machine inclosed in a suitable casing B provided with a hinged back1, as lshown in Fig. 1, the framework and casing'being of any approvedconstruction. The front 2 of the casing is provided with a horizontalslot 3 forming a mouth through which the ostal cards are discharged,there being a legge or rest 4 eX- tending outwardly from the front tohold the cards after they have been severed from the ribbon. The fronthas an opening 5 that is closed by a pane of glass 6 or othertransparent medium through which a plurality of post cards are exposed,while feeding from the spool to the cuttingy device.

At the top of the framework A is a spool 6 carrying the ribbon 7 ofpostal cards. The ribbon 7 passes forwardly from the spool to a guideroll` S and thence vertically throughA grooved members or guides 9 thatreceive the longitudinal edges of the ribbon and hold the latter in avertical position behind the window or opening 5. At the bottom of theguides 9 are horizontal rolls 10 and 11 for feeding the ribbonforwardly, the rolls being preferably of rubber and mounted on shafts 12and13. As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the shaft 12 is journaled in slidablebearing blocks 14 that are pressed by a bowespring 15 in a direction toyieldingly maintain the roll 10 in coperative relation with the roll1 1. The middle of the spring 15 is securedto an adjustable cross-piece1,6 having its ends movably disposed between the horizontal members 17of the frame A that serve as a guidew'ay for the slidable bearing blocksand cross- -piece 16., The tension of the spring 15 may be varied by anadjusting screw 18 threaded in a cross-piece 19 and bearing against therear side of the cross-piece 16. The rollsl'lO and 11 constitute afeeding device, and the shaft 13 ofthe roll 11 is provided with anoperating crank 20, the said shaft being-extended through the wall ofthe casing for receiving the operating crank. Intermedivate the feedrolls 10 and 11 and slot 3 is a horizontal deilector or guide 21 that isinclined downwardly and forwardly from u nder vao' ' retard the freerotation of the latter.

the roll 10 so as to direct.v the free end of the ribbon outwardlythrough the slot 3 as the ribbon 7 is advanced by the turning of thecrank. The spool or'roll 6 has its journals 22, as shown in Figs. 2 and7 mounted in notches 23 inthe top cross-pieces 24 of the framework A,the said notches forming bearings for `removably supporting the spool.The spool is retained in position by leaf springs 25 arranged on themember '24 to extend across the journals and to remove the spool it ismerely necessary to flex the springs upwardly for permitting thejournals to be disengagedfrom the bearing notches. The ribbons of postalcards are supplied on their own s ools and when the spool'inthe machineecomes empty, it is taken out and a full one substituted. To prevent theribbon from unwinding too freely, the dampening device is employed. AThis comprises a disk or pulley 26 lthat is removably attached to one ofthe journals 22 that is extended for this purpose and a leaf spring 27attached to the framework A at one end and frictionally engaging at itsother end the disk 26, so as to Obviously, this disk is taken 0E eachtime an `empty spool is removed and placed 'on the full spool that issubstituted.

Since the postal cards are attached together in ribbon form, it isnecessary to employ ,a simple device for severing the postal cards asthe ribbon is fed forwardly, and for this purpose a knife 28 is providedthat has a sharp cutting edge 29 that cooperates with a Astationaryhandle or cutting member 30 disposed between the bottom edge of thedeflector 21 and slot 3 at a point above the ribbon. The knife 28 swingson a horizontal shaft 31 journaled on the framework A at a point belowthe level of the feed rolls, the blade being bolted or otherwisesuitably secured to a plate 32 rigidly secured to the shaft 31 andadjustably connected with a helical extension spring 33 suitablyanchored at one end on the framework ofthe machine;

At one end, the shaft 31v is provided with a crank arm 34, as clearlyshown in Figs. 4 and 5 that has mounted on its free extremities ananti-friction roller 35 arrangedin the path of a snail-cam 36 keyed orotherwise suitably secured to the shaft 13 of the feed roll 11 so thatsimultaneously with the feeding of the ribbon by theturning of theoperating crank 20, the knife 28 will be moved downwardly to the dottedline position shown in Fig. 1 to thereby energize the spring 33 andcause the knife to move forcibly upward for severing the lowermostpostal card. The feed rolls 10 and 11 are so proportioned that one turnof the crank will advance the ribbon 7 a'distance corresponding to thelength of the postal card, and the knife operating mechan.- lsm is sodesigned that the knife will `come into play at the very time that onecard has Y been fed forwardly, or simultaneously with the stopping ofthe operating crank; In Fig. 4, the cam 36 is shown in a positionassumed just after theknife has 4severed a card, the roller 35 havingpassed off the high point of the cam to the lowest.

In order to prevent more than one card to be dispensed throu h theagenye of one coin, a coin-controlled l(locking device is used forlocking the operating crank 20 after one card has been dis ensed. A coinchute 37 is provided that has its up er openend 38 arranged at the frontof "ille machine, ,while its lower end 39 terminates at a point slightlyabove the level of the feed rolls. On the framework A is fulcrumed at40, a detent 41 dis osed at one end under the discharge end o the chute37 so as to be in the path of the coin dropped through the latter. Thedetent is pressed by a compressionspring 42 that normally holds thedetent. against a stop 43, as shown in Fig. 2. O n the shaft 13 is adisk-or wheel 44 that carries a pivot'ed locking member 45. While thedetent is in normal osition, its forward end engages the mem er 45,thereby preventing the Shaft 13 bein turned by the operating crank 20.The loe g member 45 is acted on by a f coiled s ring 46 in such a manneras to snap under t e' detent when the vforward end thereof is Araisedthrough the medium of the coin in the chute so that the crank can befreely turned. Arranged on the disk is a stop pin 47 for limiting themovement of the lockmember, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. To limitthe rotation of the shaft 13-to a clockwise direction, va ratchet wheel47 is provided on the shaft 13 with which coperates a gravity actingpawl,48. n Lthe disk 44 is a peripheral extension 49 that passes underthe detent and holds the latter raised during the first uarterrevolution of the shaft 13. AfterVA t e crank has been turned throu hone revolution, the locking lmember 45 wi enga e the detent and therebyprevent the sha t from being again turned until the detent has beenactuated by a coin.

When a coin .is dropped into the chute'37, it will come to rest inthe'hottom thereof by the detent and positive means are employed tooperate through the coin to actuate the detent'. This means comprises apush-rod feo 50 extending vertically and guidedvon -the .v

framework with its uplper endprojectng out of the casing so as to emanually actuated.. The lower end of the rod, which latter is offset at51, to extend along one side of the chute/37, is hingedly connected witha lever 52 fulcrumed at 53 on the framework and arranged with its freeend ext'ending into a .slot 54 of the chute so as vto engage over thecoin 5,5 and expel it from the chute. Theexpelling lever 52 is acted onby a leaf spring 56 secured to the framework and arranged to holdvthelever raised and out of the path of the coin as it passes down thechute. Below and in line with the chute, isl a coin receptacle 57 thatis secured to the framework by strap loops 58 and a spring latch 59. Byflexing the latch 59 tothe left, Fig. 3, the safety coin receptacle canbe slipped out of the loops 58 in a downward direction. The bottom ofthe receptacle is hingedly connected to the body and is normally held inclosed position by a lock 60, thekey of which is held .by someauthorized person. The top of the coin receptacle 57 has an inwardlyconverging mouth v60 formed by downwardly inclined members 61 secured tothe side walls. Below the mouth isa hinged keeper 62 pivoted at itsupper' edge at 63 and normally resting on a stop 64. The coins enter thereceptacle 57 through the mouth 60 and drop on the inclined keeper 62and slide thereon and fall vthrough the space between the lower edge ofthe keeper and adjacent side wall lof the receptacle. This keeperprevents the coins from being worked out of the mouth should anyoneattempt to extract the money. That is to say, should the re ceptacle 57be removed and inverted in an attempt to empty the same, the keeper willfall to the dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 3, landtherebypositively prevent the money from being worked out.

In practice, the machine is placed in stores and other public placeswhere anyone can operate the machine to receive a souvenir postalcard orthe like by depositing an a propriete coin. The coin is dropped into t echute 37 and the push-rod 50 thereafter depressed so as to cause thecoin to actuate the detent 41. The locking member 45 thereupon springsunder the front end of the detent so as to permit the operating crankIto be turned. It will thus be seen that three operations are necessary,namely, the dropping of the coin, the pressing of the rod 50, and theturning of the crank 20, these being carried out in successive order. Byone turn ofthe crank, the ribbon 7 is fed forwardly and a postal cardslipped off the lower end thereof, after which the crank will beautomatically locked. The severed card will be received by the rest 4and held thereon until removed by the person 'using the machine. It willthus be seen that the cards can be dispensed one at a time until thespool 6 is emptied. When this occurs, no more cards can be exposedthrough the window or opening 5 and in their stead will be viewed acurtain 65'having the word "empty"7 thereon so as to inform thepublicthat the machine is no longer'charged so that it would be useless todrop in any morecoins.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the advantagesof the construction and of themethod of o eration will be readily a parent to those s illed in the artto which t e invention appertains, and while we have described theprinciple of operation of the invention, together with theapparatuswhich we now consider to rbe the best embodiment thereof, wedesire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely.illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as arewithin the-scope of the claims. Having thus described the invention,what we claim is 1. In a machine of the class described, the combinationof a strip -carrying roll, feed rolls between which the strip passes, acrank Afor operating the feed rolls, a ratchet and pawl device forpreventing the crank from being turned in reverse direction, a cutter,an arm connected with the cutter for oscillating the same, a camrotating with the crank and engaging the arm for moving the cu ter inone direction, a spring arranged and ad pted to move the cutter duringits cutting stroke and to hold the arm in engagement with the cam, alocking device arranged and adapte/d to automatically set for preventingthe crank from turning, and'manually actuated means arranged to releasethe locking device to permit the-crank to be turned.

Z. In a machine of the class described, the combination of astrip-carryingroll, a pair of feed rolls, a rest disposed in coperativerelation to the rolls, means for guiding the strip to be cut-from therolls to the rest, a shaft, a cutter fixed on the shaft to oscillateabout the latter as a center, an arm on one end of the shaft, anoperating shaft, means between the operating shaft and arm for actuatingthe latter, means for preventing the operating shaft from turning inreversey direction, means coperating with the cam for actuating thecutter, a locking device including a detent for arresting rotation ofthe operating shaft after the cutter has completed its cutting stroke,and manuallyv actuated means for releasing the detent.

3. In a-machine of the class described, the combination of astrip-carrying roll, a pair of feed rolls, grooved guides arranged toreceive l the edges of the strip in assing from the strip-carryingrollsto the eed rolls, a driving meansconnected lwith one of the feed rolls,and a locking device controlling said driving means, said devicecomprising a rotatable element, a spring-pressed member on the element,a springactuated lever arranged to engage the member for arresting thesaid driving means', and means for actuating the lever for releasing thelocking device.

4. In a machine `of the class described, the

combination of a pair of feed rolls, a crank connected with one of thefeed rolls, a ratchet wheel, a pawl cooperating therewith forcontrolling the direction of rotation with the crank, a pivoted memberrotating the crank, van element mounted to engage the member forpreventing turning of the crank, manual means vfor disengaging theelement from the member, and means for actuating the member to aposition to hold the element disengaged to permit the crank to beturned.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair offeed rolls, shafts on which the rolls `are mounted, a crank connectedwith one of the shafts, a ratchet and pawl mechanism for preventing thecrank from, turning in a reverse direction, an eleme'nt rotating withthe crank, a pivoted member thereon, a spring pressing on the member, alever arranged to engage the member7 manually actuated means forreleasing the lever from the member, a cutter, and means forA actuatinglthe cutter by the crank, said lever and member being so arranged as toautomatically lock the crank against turning when the cutter has.completed its cutting stroke.

6. In a machine of theclass described, the

combination of ribbon feeding rolls, a crank shaft for one of the rolls,a rotatable element secured to the shaft, a locking member thereon, adetent arranged in the' path of the' locking member, means for releasingthe de'- tent from the member, and a spring for throwing the lockingmember under the detent to permit the crank shaft to be rotated. 7. Ina'machine of the class described, the combination of a feeding deviceincluding a shaft mounted for rotation, a member rotatablevtherewith, adetent foi1 engaging the member to lock the shaft, and means forpreventing the shaft from rotating in reverse direction, a swingingcutter, a crank arm connected with the cutter, a snail-cam on the shaftfor actuating the crank-arm to move the cutter in one direction, and aquick aeting device for moving the cutter in the opposite direction. v

` In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures in presence'of twowitnesses.

HARVEY H. HARRIS. HENRY o. HARRIS.

Witnesses:

J. W. RICE, J. F. MoNEw.

